MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2006

COMING TUESDAY

DC news, Marvel First Looks -- and much more!!!

SPIDER-MAN 3 IN CLEVELAND

UPDATE: Spidey swings into action early Tuesday morning in Cleveland.

"Clear Euclid! Everyone please clear Euclid!"

It was a common refrain from headset-wearing crew members lining Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland late Monday afternoon as Spider-Man 3 continued second-unit production in the closed-to-public-traffic street.

Onlookers took photos and enjoyed a minute of Hollywood as cars, and then later an armored truck rigged to a filming vehicle, went up and down the avenue until wrapping the day's shooting around 8 p.m.

Several signs around the street let people know what was going on and that they might actually wind up in the film (see photo to the right).

Filming will continue through Saturday.

Look for more of a complete report soon, but here are some images from the day's shooting, as well as several examples of the how the production has changed Cleveland into New York City.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images and look for more on the film on Tuesday here in The Continuum.

FIRST LOOK: MARVEL LEGENDS GIANT-MAN ASSORTMENT

Toy Biz has provided The Continuum with a preview of its Giant-Man assortment of Marvel Legends action figures, arriving exclusively in Wal-Mart stores in May.

The assortment includes will feature Warbird, Captain Britain, Havok, Thor, Ant-Man, Sentry, Age of Apocalypse Wolverine, Kitty Pryde and Age of Apocalypse Sabretooth.

The nine figures will include parts to build a 14-inch Giant-Man.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

PITTSBURGH COMICON: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS PANEL

When it comes to films based on his properties, Brian Michael Bendis says, "I have no control, I just ride the wave."

He seems to be nativigating pretty well of late, providing an update on three projects during his panel at the Pittsburgh Comicon on Saturday.

XENA'S CREATIVE TEAM

Dynamite Entertainment has announced the creative team of writer John Layman and artist Fabiano Neves for its Xena comic-book series, which is being solicited for a July launch.

"Working on Xena is a blast. I am a big fan of the show," Layman said. "It probably all goes back to when I was a kid; I could never get enough of those Ray Harryhausen Greek-mythos monster movies. Xena reminds me a lot of those, with kick-ass heroes, vengeful gods, astonishing monsters, quirky supporting characters and unpredictable stories rooted in fable and legend."

Layman, who is currently finishing the Dynamite/DC crossover Red Sonja/Claw the Unconquered: Devil's Hands, said that writing writing Xena similar to writing Red Sonja.

"It's high-octane action about a tough warrior chick kicking all kinds of ass," Layman said. "But Xena the comic, like Xena the TV show, is a lot more tongue-in-cheek. As people who follow my writing know, I get a big kick out of sneaking in subversive comedy into my writing. With Xena, I don't have to hide it. Xena is the perfect venue for humor and goofy-fun mixed with non-stop adrenaline."

The first issue of Xena will have a Billy Tan cover, as well as others to be announced.

BRIEFLY

* The HBO First Look: Superman Returns special will also air on HBO2. Air dates and times include Wednesday, June 21 at 9:45 p.m.; Friday, June 23 at 11:15 a.m.; Saturday, June 24 at 12:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.; and Monday, June 25 at 9:45 p.m.

* Action Comics #837, featuring the second chapter of theOne Year Later story "Up, Up and Away," has sold out at DC Comics and is going back to press for a new printing. The second printing features a recolored version of the original cover by Terry and Rachel Dodson, and is scheduled to arrive in stores on May 17.

* Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Alan Cumming and Shawn Ashmore will reprise their X-Men film roles and lend their voices to Wolverine, Professor Xavier, Nightcrawler and Iceman in Activision's X-Men: The Official Game. The game puts players into an original storyline that serves as a prelude to the X-Men: The Last Stand film.

"Having these actors renew their movie characters in X-Men: The Official Game immerses gamers in the X-Men movie universe," said Will Kassoy, vice president of global brand management, Activision Publishing. "Players will experience epic battles and uncover the events behind Nightcrawler's mysterious disappearance and the roles the X-Men and Brotherhood play in the upcoming film."

The game will be released on May 16.

* Image Comics has announced a sell-out of Peter Bergting's The Portent #1. "I'm thrilled that it has been so well received," Bergting said. "Not least because it's a very personal story. I try to write from the heart and you can only hope that the book will strike a chord with
the audience."

COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

In case you missed The Continuum's recent coverage, here are some links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.